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Maintenance access zones for storage and retrieval systems

  • US 10,005,624 B2
  • Filed: 03/21/2017
  • Issued: 06/26/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of operating an automated warehouse system comprising:

  • providing a multilevel storage structure including a plurality of storage locations arranged on sides of picking aisles disposed in rows on each level so that the picking aisles of a respective row are stacked one above the other, each level having more than one shelf level on which the plurality of storage locations are disposed;

    providing at least one autonomous transport vehicle that travels along the stacked picking aisles for transferring items to and from the storage locations of the more than one shelf level;

    disposing maintenance access zones within and coincident with the stacked picking aisles and defining the maintenance access zones at least in part by the sides with the storage locations of the more than one shelf level of the stacked picking aisles in at least one row, so that each maintenance access zone provides continuous access to multiple levels of the stacked picking aisles that are in communication with each other and the more than one shelf levels on the sides corresponding to each of the multiple levels of picking aisles; and

    supporting the at least autonomous transport vehicle for travel through a respective picking aisle with at least one rail included within the picking aisles, where the at least one rail is common to the more than one shelf level of at least one level of the stacked picking aisles and the at least one rail is configured so as to provide access to the more than one shelf level of the at least one level of the stacked picking aisles.

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